Port Adelaide Power vs Geelong Cats Prediction: Cats can not be written off

The Adelaide Oval will host the first playoff encounter of the Australian Football League for the 2024 season. In this game, the Port Adelaide Power will play the Geelong Cats. The two teams had a fantastic regular season. How will they approach this game?

The Port Adelaide Power will have their focus on qualifying for the next round of this fixture following a strong regular season performance. In 22 matches, the Port Adelaide Power accumulated 60 points from 22 games, finishing second in the standings, just four points adrift of first-placed Sydney Swans. However, their recent performances into this fixture saw Port Adelaide Power win six successive games. The home team defeated Richmond Tigers, Carlton Blues, Sydney Swans, Melbourne Demons, Adelaide Crows and Fremantle Dockers in that run. 

The Geelong Cats will enter this fixture hoping to show their class after a strong regular season performance. In the 22 matches played this season, Geelong Cats had a 113.25 percentile, finishing 3rd in the standings with 60 points. Entering the playoffs stage, the Geelong Cats won four of their last five matches, their lone defeat coming against St Kilda Saints in a round 21 encounter. However, the visiting team secured wins against North Melbourne Kangaroos, Adelaide Crows, Fremantle Dockers and West Coast Eagles into this game. 

The Geelong Cats might be road underdogs, but they are not a side to overlook. In the regular season, this team performed strongly, and despite Port Adelaide Power winning the last game of this fixture, we saw how tight the score line was. This should be a close result, but I am certain the two teams will approach it with a lot of offensive play while the Cats get within the lines.